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Michigan Football: Big Ten needs to figure out what its doing

By Chris Peterson

ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 21: A general view of the Big Ten Conference headquarters on August 21, 2020 in Rosemont, Illinois. The Big Ten conference made the decision to delay the fall football season until the spring to protect players and staff as transmission of the COVID-19 virus continues to rise. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 21: A general view of the Big Ten Conference headquarters on August 21, 2020 in Rosemont, Illinois. The Big Ten conference made the decision to delay the fall football season until the spring to protect players and staff as transmission of the COVID-19 virus continues to rise. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football could still be playing this year if the Big Ten decides to pick up play around Thanksgiving.

Just when you thought that 2020 might leave us without a Michigan football season, a rapid test for COVID-19 was approved and momentum for a “fall” season is back on the rise.

According to a report from Jeff Potrykus the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Big Ten is now considering a season that would start around Thanksgiving and would take place at indoor facilities around the Midwest. Here’s what he wrote:

"“According to two college football people familiar with the Big Ten, those talks have generated a new option, starting a Big Ten season of at least eight games the week of Thanksgiving. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.”"

The talk prior to this was that the Big Ten was thinking about an eight-game season that would start after January 1. The two division winners would then play in the Big Ten championship game.

The College Football Playoff announced its schedule for rankings and for the actual playoff games, which wouldn’t wait for a spring season, meaning the Big Ten and Pac-12 won’t get any consideration if they wait to play their seasons.

The playoff will be determined by the SEC, Big 12 and ACC.

Even if this spring schedule happened, it’s unclear if Michigan football and others would have a chance at a playoff.

It’s not likely unless the College Football Playoff actually pushed back its schedule.

Even an eight-game season starting late in November, wouldn’t be finished by the time the playoff is supposed to start Jan. 1.

The biggest upside of a November season would that teams could be close to full strength. It’s likey they would still be elgible for the NFL draft, playing in a season that starts in November, which could mean guys like Nico Collins and Kwity Paye actually playing this year for U-M.

Yet it’s unclear how the NFL will handle that or if the league will push back its draft date. If the season starts in January, the draft is a huge question that must be answered.

Proceeding in that direction without an answer would be irresonpsible. Players need some sort of clarity before making decisions about their football futures.

They deserve that much and the Big Ten, regardless of when it decides to play games, it owes fans, players, coaches and schools a plan, with a schedule included, as soon as possible.

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Then we can at least have something to look forward to.

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